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For many years, the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) had involved exfoliating graphite flakes, and the methods applied were expensive and time‐consuming. Thus, an attempt had been made to create an inventive, less expensive method for the synthesis of GO using unrefined, raw carbon‐containing material. Modified Hummer's method was used to prepare GO from banana peel. In addition, the metallic silver nanocomposite was also synthesized along with laoding of drug Rocephin where they interact with each other through electrostatic hydrogen bond interaction. The degree of crystallinity and the crystallite size were through x‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and the crystallite size of AgNPs was found to be 40.40 nm. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows that the morphology of the GO gradually changes with the addition of AgNPs and Rocephin. A blue shift was seen in the absorbance maxima of the raw carbon upon the conjugation of Rocephin in UV analysis. The Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy were used to determine the chemical composition of the samples. Furthermore, a broad biological screening of the synthesized samples had been carried out following the total reducing power (TRP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), antibacterial, antifungal, MTT (Cytotoxicity of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles in MDA‐MB‐231 human breast cancer cells) cell viability, brine shrimp lethality, and hemolytic protocols. Significant results were obtained, and the Rocephin‐GO‐AgNPs had depicted promising activity as compared with their counterparts. Research Highlights: The GO was prepared from the raw carbon extracted from banana peels and was used as a substrate for the synthesis Graphene oxide silver nanoparticles (GO‐AgNPs) and Rocephin‐loaded graphene oxide silver nanoparticles (Rocephin‐GO‐AgNPs)The structural and compositional analysis of the nanomaterial was carried out, and they were screened for several biomedical applications.The Rocephin‐GO‐AgNPs exhibit the highest activity as compared with their counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisinin, artemether, artesunate, and dihydroartemisinin are renowned for their antimalarial potential. The current study aims to repurpose the above-mentioned artemisinic compounds (ACs) by conducting an intercomparison to evaluate their antiinflammatory potential (AIP). In order to develop potential candidates for the evaluation of AIP of ACs (50 and 100 mg/kg BW), carbon tetrachloride (1ml/kg body weight (BW)) was administered intraperitoneally to BALB/c mice. Alterations in animal behavior were assessed weekly through tail suspension test, force swim test, open field test, Y-maze test, inverted screen analysis, and weight lifting test. Aberrations in hematological, serological, endogenous antioxidants, and oxidative stress marker profiles were assessed in all twelve groups. Histological alterations were read using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Levels of inflammatory markers including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), were determined using immunohistochemical analysis (IHCA). Antioxidant markers i.e., nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor (Nrf-2) and thioredoxin (TRX) were also quantified through IHCA. Comet assay was performed to quantify DNA damage. Oral administration of ACs to mice significantly alleviated the carbon tetrachloride induced inflammation in comparison with silymarin. Reduced levels of several inflammatory markers including nitric oxide, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, interleukin-1 beta, NF-κB, TNF-α, and NLRP3, underscore the substantial AIP of ACs. IHCA depicted the revitalized percent relative expression of Nrf-2 and TRX in groups treated with ACs. Behavioral analysis revealed that ACs-treated groups significantly (p<0.05) attenuated the memory deficit, anxiety, and depressive-like behavior. Moreover, histopathological, hematological, serological, and endogenous antioxidant profiles indicated substantial AIP of ACs. Findings of comet assay further bolstered the compelling evidence as DNA damage was significantly (p<0.05) curbed down after ACs (100 mg/kg) treatment. All these outcomes implied that ACs exhibited AIP in a dose-dependent manner with maximal AIP imparted by artemisinin (100 mg/kg). This pre-clinical investigation avers the tremendous AIP of ACs targeting key molecular pathways. The current study divulges artemisinin as the most potent antiinflammatory agent among the tested compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research aimed to evaluate in vitro biological activities of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using the Allium sativum clove extract. The stability of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles was evaluated via storage at 4°C, room temperature (37°C), and calcined at 300°C, 500°C, and 700°C. The antibacterial effect was evaluated using agar well, spread plate, biofilm reduction, and cell proliferation inhibition assays. The cytotoxic and antidiabetic effects were determined via brine shrimp lethality, protein kinase inhibition, and α-amylase inhibition assays. DPPH scavenging, iron-chelating, anticoagulant, and hemolytic effects were evaluated. The highest inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae was observed when freshly prepared, calcined (300°C), and stored nanoparticles (4°C and 37°C) were applied (9.66, 9.55, 7.33, and 6.65 mm) against freshly prepared and calcined at 700°C which showed the highest inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.55 and 7.66 mm). Cell viability assay, biofilm reduction assay, and spread plate method showed a significant antibacterial effect of freshly prepared silver nanoparticles. Freshly prepared and calcined nanoparticles at 300°C and 500°C possessed strong antioxidant and iron-chelating activity. Among all the synthesized silver nanoparticles, freshly prepared and calcined nanoparticles (300°C and 500°C) increases the prothrombin time. Silver nanoparticles possessed significant anticoagulant properties and less toxic at least concentration toward human RBCs. In brine shrimp lethality assay, freshly prepared nanoparticles showed a stronger toxic effect and caused high mortality of larvae. Protein kinase inhibition assay revealed that freshly prepared nanoparticles had the highest zone of inhibition (18.0 mm) at 50 µg/disc. Green-synthesized nanoparticles would be used as potential therapeutic agents to overcome both infectious and noninfectious diseases.

BACKGROUND: The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an economically important polyphagous, quarantine pest endemic to South and South‐East Asia. The male annihilation technique (MAT) and the sterile insect technique (SIT) are environmentally benign techniques used to suppress fruit fly populations on an area‐wide basis. The MAT and SIT are typically used sequentially to avoid killing released sterile males; however, MAT and SIT potentially could be used simultaneously and thereby increase the overall efficiency of control programmes. Mating competitiveness of sterile males against wild counterparts is critical for the success of the SIT. Feeding on a semiochemical, methyl eugenol (ME) has been reported to enhance the male mating performance of many Bactrocera spp., including B. zonata, but its use in SIT operational programmes is limited owing to the absence of a viable delivery system. RESULTS: In the present study, we demonstrated that ME aromatherapy, a practical method for large‐scale delivery of ME olfactorily, enhances the mating success of treated B. zonata males. ME aromatherapy application to 5‐day‐old immature males for a duration of 5 h resulted in increased mating success of males tested when sexually mature, compared to untreated males. The ME‐aromatized males also exhibited reduced attraction to ME‐lure. CONCLUSION: A practical delivery system for applying ME by aromatherapy to mass‐reared males was developed. ME‐aromatherapy enhanced male mating success and suppressed their subsequent attraction to ME, thus enabling the application of MAT and SIT at the same time. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a pest of economic importance, endemic to South and South‐East Asia. It is highly invasive and due to its quarantine pest status, it interferes with horticultural trade. Males of many Bactrocera species are strongly attracted to methyl eugenol (ME) [1,2‐dimethoxy‐4‐(2‐propenyl) benzene], a phenylpropanoid compound naturally occurring in many plant species. Feeding on ME is also reported to enhance male mating success in several Bactrocera species. Such an effect can increase the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique (SIT). The current study was designed to identify the sexual maturity age of males of B. zonata, the relation between male age and attraction to ME, and the effect of ME on male mating success. The results showed that males initiated their mating at 8 days of age and attained the highest mating success at 16 days of age. The percentage of immature males responding to ME increased with age and the maximum response was observed during the age of sexual maturity. Methyl eugenol treatment at sexual maturity significantly enhanced male mating success over untreated males. The males treated with ME at a sexually immature age (5 days old) achieved significantly higher mating success after reaching sexual maturity. These findings suggested that B. zonata males can be treated with ME at the age of 5 days in sterile‐male 'holding and release' facilities and thereafter released in the field, where they are expected to achieve higher mating success after attaining sexual maturity. The results are discussed as a valid approach for enhancing the effectiveness of SIT application against B. zonata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]